80% of the entire copper are produced using pyrometallurgical methods based on complete fusing of the whole mass. During this process copper is concentrated in sulfides (matte) and gang mineral goes to the slag, because of the coppers higher sulphur affinity. Matte, basically Cu2S, FeS, is separated from slag by setting.
Compressed air is blown through the layer of liquid copper matte placed into the converter. On the first step iron sulphide is oxidized. Quartz is added for binding the iron oxides and removing them in form of converter slag. After that copper sulphide is oxidized yielding metal copper on SO2. This crude copper is cast. The billets are then undergoes to fire refining based on oxophilicity of impurities stronger than the copper& |